SOUTH DAKOTA - When digging into the history of the Mount Rushmore State, the timeline leads to the banks of the Missouri River and the town of Fort Pierre. Established in 1817, it is the oldest continuous settlement in South Dakota, serving as a fur-trading hub long before the Dakotas were divided or statehood was achieved.
The Founding: 1817
Fort Pierre’s origins are rooted in the competitive fur trade.
- The La Framboise Post: In 1817, French-Canadian trader Joseph La Framboise established a trading post at the confluence of the Bad and Missouri Rivers. This marked the beginning of continuous European occupation in the area.
- Fort Pierre Chouteau: The settlement grew in importance when the American Fur Company, led by Pierre Chouteau Jr., built a massive fortress nearby in 1832. It became the largest and most significant trading post on the upper Missouri River, serving as a depot for furs coming from the Rockies and goods coming from St. Louis.
Indigenous Roots
Long before the fur traders arrived, the area was a vital gathering place for the Lakota (Sioux) and Arikara peoples. The confluence of the rivers made it a natural crossroads for trade and council. The significance of the location is highlighted by the Verendrye Plate, a lead tablet buried on a hill overlooking present-day Fort Pierre by French explorers in 1743, claiming the region for France. It was rediscovered by schoolchildren in 1913, providing physical evidence of the area's long history as a point of cultural contact.
A Technical Distinction: The "Mother City"
While Fort Pierre is the oldest settlement, the city of Yankton holds the title of the "Mother City of the Dakotas."
- Yankton (1859): Yankton was founded much later, in 1859, but it played a different role. It was the first capital of the Dakota Territory (which included both North and South Dakota).
- Incorporation: Because it was the seat of government, Yankton was the first city to legally incorporate and establish a municipal government in 1861/1862. While Fort Pierre was a rough-and-tumble trading post for decades, Yankton was the first "political" city.
Settlement vs. Incorporation
South Dakota history distinguishes between the "fur trade era" and the "settlement era." Fort Pierre dominated the fur trade era (1817–1850s). The settlement era began with the Treaty of 1858, which opened the southeastern part of the territory to homesteaders, leading to the founding of towns like Yankton, Vermillion, and Sioux Falls. However, Fort Pierre's continuous existence since 1817 secures its title as the oldest community.
Fort Pierre is the oldest continuous settlement in South Dakota, originating as a fur trading post established by Joseph La Framboise in 1817. It served as the commercial hub of the upper Missouri for decades. The area was previously a strategic point for the Lakota and Arikara nations. While Yankton (founded 1859) is known as the "Mother City" because it was the first territorial capital and incorporated city, Fort Pierre holds the chronological priority.
Sources
- South Dakota State Historical Society. "Fort Pierre Chouteau."
- City of Fort Pierre. "History of Fort Pierre."
- City of Yankton. "History of the Mother City."
- National Park Service. "Verendrye National Historic Landmark."
- Encyclopedia of the Great Plains. "Fort Pierre."